01 December 2017

Chairperson: Mr C De Beer (ANC)

Meeting Summary

The Committee met to first receive a briefing from National Treasury on amendments to the Adjustments Appropriation Bill and then to vote on the Bill.

The main highlights on amendments to the Adjustments Appropriation Bill by National Treasury were as follows:

Vote Number 18 of the Schedule- Correctional Services

Treasury made a technical adjustment in main division 2 (Incarceration), by replacing Repair and maintenance of correctional and other facilities with Property payments: Municipal services.

Vote Number 5 of the Schedule- Home Affairs

An additional R100 million had been allocated to Home Affairs and amendments to amounts reflected the allocation. The first quarter of the budget vote was dedicated to planning whereas the second quarter to actual procurement of computer hardware hence the need for additional funds.

Under Current Payments (Goods and Services) in main division 1 (Administration), 371 722 was replaced with 471 722.

Under Current Payments (Goods and Services) in main division 1 (Administration), 365 174 was replaced with 465 174.

The Committee was agreeable to the amendments and the Bill was adopted with changes.

The Committee considered and adopted Reports on: the Bill; 2017 Medium Term Budget Policy Statement; Oversight visit to Gauteng Metropolitan Municipalities; and Committee activities for 2017.

Meeting report

Briefing by National Treasury on the Adjustments Appropriation Bill
The Chairperson welcomed everyone and noted that the Committee had already received a briefing on the Adjustments Appropriation Bill. Additional amendments were made and had been presented before the Standing Committee on Appropriations the previous day.

Ms Gillian Wilson, Chief Director: Public Finance, National Treasury presented amendments to the Bill as follows:

Vote Number 18 of the Schedule- Correctional Services
Treasury made a technical adjustment in main division 2 (Incarceration), by replacing Repair and maintenance of correctional and other facilities with Property payments: Municipal services.

Vote Number 5 of the Schedule- Home Affairs
Ms Wilson stated that an additional R100 million had been allocated to Home Affairs and amendments on amounts reflected the allocation. The first quarter of the budget vote was dedicated to planning whereas the second quarter to actual procurement of computer hardware hence the need for additional funds.

Under Current Payments (Goods and Services) in main division 1 (Administration), 371 722 was replaced with 471 722.

Under Current Payments (Goods and Services) in main division 1 (Administration), 365 174 was replaced with 465 174.

Vote Number 7 of the Schedule- National Treasury
Treasury had identified a R100 million on the Treasury vote that would make up for the additional sum to Home Affairs. Therefore, 9 785 086 was replaced by 9 685 086 on page 5, in the third column.

Under Transfer and Subsidies, 231 763 was replaced with 331 763.

Under Transfer and Subsidies for main division 8 (Technical Support and Development Finance) in respect of Government Technical Advisory Centre: Facilitation of public funds for job creation initiatives, 230 000 was replaced with 280 000.

The Chairperson said that stakeholders had made presentations during and after public hearings on the Bill and the Committee was agreeable to the contents of the Bill.

The Committee adopted the Bill with amendments.

The DA reserved its rights on the Bill.

Committee Report on Adjustments Appropriation Bill
The Committee Report on the Bill was also adopted.

The Chairperson highlighted the contents of the Report and suggested that Committee recommendations as captured in the report on the revised fiscal framework should be reiterated. All spheres of government should ensure that fruitless and wasteful expenditure was done away with. Parliament would need to closely monitor departments as funds which could be put into good use were being wasted.

The Report was adopted with changes and the DA reserved its right. The changes would be incorporated by the before the report is ATC’d.

Consideration of draft Report on the Gauteng Oversight Visit to the three Metropolitan Municipalities

The Chairperson said the oversight visits were indeed fruitful. He took the Committee through the Report and it was adopted.

Consideration of draft Report on Committee activities during 2017
The Chairperson gave an outline of the Report and Members were agreeable to its contents.

Mr E Makue (ANC, Gauteng) commented on the report template. He suggested a discussion with the Office of the Chief Whip on a template that would enable the coordination and sharing of content between committees and departments. Creating synergies and improving oversight responsibilities amongst and between committees was important.

The Chairperson noted Mr Makue’s input stating that it was helpful. The report was adopted and he thanked everyone for their commitment throughout the year 2017.